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Doesn’t that just set things up? I’m going to twist the reference into something you probably didn’t expect. I’ve been researching the nature of self-development for many decades, applying the research to changing my own life as well as the many clients and organizations I’ve had relationships with over the years.

There has been an overwhelming notion that the core competencies in any successful individual and/or organization are simple: faith, love and trust. I’ll explain what I mean by that further. We’ll look at common definitions and and extended understand extrapolated from the common understanding in hopes of making sense common. The latter brings with it a more well-adjusted and available experience in personal and professional arenas.

Faith

In religion, faith often involves accepting claims about the character of a deity, nature, or the universe. While some have argued that faith is opposed to reason, proponents of faith argue that the proper domain of faith concerns questions which cannot be settled by evidence. For example, faith can be applied to predictions of the future, which (by definition) has not yet occurred.

The word faith is often used as a substitute for hope, trust or belief.”

So this would indicate that ‘faith’ is primarily something associated with religious or spiritual belief systems. What if it were also associated with ‘experience’ systems, those things we grow to know through our experience and understanding?

I would offer that it goes much further in practical application for everyday living. We have faith in many things that guide and nurture our lives. Most of the time that faith is built on experience with people, places and things. In some cases we might say it is more of a ‘knowing’ that develops over time, but with each new situation that ‘faith’ of certain things being present is undeniable. It is a core competency of our efforts to achieve anything worthwhile.

What about the people, places and things in our lives? Can we have faith in them? Of course. Our faith my be tempered by experience. We have faith that certain actions or words will cause a domino effect, cascading into the natural outcome if unaltered or unchecked. Faith also allows us to put people, places and things together on the fly when required to address action plans or emergencies. The former can be just as stressful as the latter, yet with the faith one has in their ability to perform the results are only a matter of time.

There is also a certain faith folks carry who feel they are part of something greater. In our current planetary position, there are a rising number of what were once called Cultural Creatives™ who sense an imperative need to change our attitudes toward fear-based belief systems. Instead of focusing on what is ‘wrong’ they are turning toward developing solutions for the challenges we face as a planetary civilization. The operation of such a movement begins in local communities with leaders who serve through challenging legislators to do what is beneficial for the health of the community and its residents. There is a certain ‘faith’ that drives these folks in doing what needs to be done.

Love

From Wikipedia: “The English word love can refer to a variety of different feelings, states, and attitudes, ranging from pleasure (“I loved that meal”) to interpersonal attraction (“I love my partner”). It can refer to an emotion of a strong affection and personal attachment. It can also be a virtue representing human kindness, compassion, and affection—”the unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another”.And it may describe compassionate and affectionate actions towards other humans, one’s self or animals.

In terms of interpersonal attraction, four forms of love have traditionally been distinguished, based on ancient Greek precedent: the love of kinship or familiarity (in Greek, storge), the love of friendship (philia), the love of sexual and/or romantic desire (eros), and self-emptying or divine love (agape). Modern authors have distinguished further varieties of romantic love. Non-Western traditions have also distinguished variants or symbioses of these states. This diversity of uses and meanings, combined with the complexity of the feelings involved, makes love unusually difficult to consistently define, compared to other emotional states.

Love in its various forms acts as a major facilitator of interpersonal relationships and, owing to its central psychological importance, is one of the most common themes in the creative arts. Love may be understood as part of the survival instinct, a function to keep human beings together against menaces and to facilitate the continuation of the species.”

I want to offer a little twist the concept of LOVE. Let’s expand it to Limitless Oscillating Vibrational Energy – it just IS. I trust that paints an appropriate picture. LOVE is in action, it is alive in and around us always, coursing through every person and situation we encounter. We can feel it in our humble and quiet moments. We share the sensation we do the things that bring us happiness and joy. We don’t talk about it much, though. We talk about everything else, but what really matters; to love and be loved. At our core, we all desire the same thing, yet we act out in some amazing ways to produce just the opposite; isolation and separation when we put conditions on people, places and things.

Conversely when the little ego rises to the big Ego, the inspired self, it changes the game entirely. The sensation is sought after and recognized as a resonance that is undeniable. The Limitless Oscillating Vibrational Energy becomes a guiding beacon rather than a subtle distraction. To think it just magically appears is probably not far off the mark, when one releases their fear of … then a new freedom appears and the sensation of LOVE along with it. Sure, it is a challenge to engage this kind of activity or discussion in most public gatherings or workplaces. Still, if you don’t, who will?

LOVE, in this sense, is absent of emotion yet full of feeling. The reality is a paradox in play with the mind as it grabs for meaning and practicality. I would go so far as to say it is a natural state of the universe, a sensation that is felt in every living creature in some form or another. It sounds really simplistic, but then so does quantum physics view of the appearance of the particle or wave depending on the observer. So, LOVE is difficult to consistently define, beyond the emotional states. It is easy to sense, though, permeating our being and our lives.

The little ego begins to understand the Supra Ego, the Inspired ONE, engaged and enveloped by LOVE. How does this change our behavior? When we aspire to engage the sensation in all we do, everything changes and what once seemed insurmountable might seem as just a bump in the road on our journey. In our current state of affairs and social challenges it is even more imperative that this consciousness, this understanding and wisdom, prevails in our every deed and thought. We can demonstrate, but not dominate the conversation.

Trust

From Wikipedia: “In a social context, trust has several connotations. Definitions of trust typically refer to a situation characterized by the following aspects: One party (trustor) is willing to rely on the actions of another party (trustee); the situation is directed to the future. In addition, the trustor (voluntarily or forcedly) abandons control over the actions performed by the trustee. As a consequence, the trustor is uncertain about the outcome of the other’s actions; he can only develop and evaluate expectations. The uncertainty involves the risk of failure or harm to the trustor if the trustee will not behave as desired.

Trust can be attributed to relationships between people. It can be demonstrated that humans have a natural disposition to trust and to judge trustworthiness that can be traced to the neurobiological structure and activity of a human brain, and can be altered e.g. by the application of oxytocin.

Conceptually, trust is also attributable to relationships within and between social groups (families, friends, communities, organizations, companies, nations etc.). It is a popular approach to frame the dynamics of inter-group and intra-group interactions in terms of trust.

When it comes to the relationship between people and technology, the attribution of trust is a matter of dispute. The intentional stance demonstrates that trust can be validly attributed to human relationships with complex technologies. However, rational reflection leads to the rejection of an ability to trust technological artifacts.

One of the key current challenges in the social sciences is to re-think how the rapid progress of technology has impacted constructs such as trust. This is specifically true for information technology that dramatically alters causation in social systems.

In the social sciences, the subtleties of trust are a subject of ongoing research. In sociology and psychology the degree to which one party trusts another is a measure of belief in the honesty, fairness, or benevolence of another party. The term “confidence” is more appropriate for a belief in the competence of the other party. Based on the most recent research, a failure in trust may be forgiven more easily if it is interpreted as a failure of competence rather than a lack of benevolence or honesty. In economics trust is often conceptualized as reliability in transactions. In all cases trust is a heuristic decision rule, allowing the human to deal with complexities that would require unrealistic effort in rational reasoning.”

Now let’s take a twisted view of trust. What circuitous journey am I going to take you on now? Trust is a natural foundation of living, but we have to let go of our vice-grip on reality to truly TRUST. This is probably the ultimate challenge for the change agent, you. It is self-initiating and ultimately self-fulfilling when the vision, mission, plan, practice and performance manifest as a successful endeavor.

In this kind of scenario and in order for us to serve a mission or purpose, the ‘me’ or ‘I’ has to take a break and sit out for a moment. The question arises, “How can I help with the best use of my ability, skills set and understanding for….?” With such a question and from a place of quiet observation one can allow a natural flow of appropriate contemplations or thoughts to emerge. Answers flow and quite often one simply ‘sees’ what needs to be done.

When one is able to step back and observe a situation BEFORE being engaged by it, there is the capacity for shaping the results in a positive way by simple non-attached observation coupled with that sensation of trust. Yes, it is another sensation. It has subtle differences from faith and love. Each has a frequency or resonance that is perceivable or perceptible by the body-mind sensory array. We just haven’t tuned ourselves in properly.

It applies to social architecture of the future as well. Faith, love and trust are intrinsic in developing personal and professional relationships, yet far too often we treat each other as potential enemies vying for attention, time and market share. People don’t change, a person does. If one finds people, places and things that promote happiness and harmony, how difficult is it to share those with their cohorts, peers or staff? If we are going to find sustainable processes that create a better world, what might we search for in the smorgasbord of solutions?

So what does this all mean, the twisted views? I have a feeling that these are operational foundations of our natural being. Our choice is whether we learn how to operate with them or continue to ignore them and flounder down the path to perdition we’re on as a planetary population. The practical side is the application of the new living awareness in everything we are, do and hope for in this life. It applies to how we treat ourselves, each other and our planet.

Some deeper part of me knows this is natural – BEing in faith, love and trust. The rest are distractions to the truth.

(signed treaty violated by Earth’s elite) “Much pain but still time.” Disregard for life in all its forms, yet there is time to facilitate harmony among people and planet. “Believe there is good out there.” NO THREAT from off planet civilizations. Paul Hellyer (retired Canadian Defense Minister) revealed this is well known in the Military Industrial Complex. “We oppose the deceivers.” Opposition for those who continue to control and manipulate through fear-based systems. Opposition does not mean aggression, either. Beyond the mirroring of behavior, authenticity and openness flow more than fear. “Conduit is closing.” No longer will deceptive practices be hidden – what is done in the shadows will come to light naturally. Human-centric notions will end. The Galactic Year is ending, cosmologically affecting our solar system, right down to the cellular brain of our DNA.

There has been a growing trend, an increase in consciousness, that assuages the old belief systems and offers a new living awareness. It is evident across the world and throughout existing belief systems that have fallen short of their intended purpose – to unite humanity as one. There is a New Time and a New Way; understanding that humans are related to each other and to ‘extraterrestrial’ races as a galactic family, a galactic federation of light. The so-called ‘dark intentions’ were merely the process of an evolving civilization separated from the true knowledge of their origins, learning how to manage or mis-manage resources – people, places and things. It is a challenge for humans to see this based on their (to date) short life spans.

Here we are now in the New Time, with renewed passion for reordering our world in harmony with natural law and order. We’ve learned, at an accelerated rate since the Harmonic Convergence, that when the doorway opened and the exponential shifts in consciousness began to occur aligned with the opening created by celestial alignments, the subtle energy dance with a different beat – that of the heart.

In this New Time, truth emerges as continuous discoveries are made in science, spirituality and technology. We know there are many dimensions, demonstrated by modern mathematicians and experienced by those who, for some reason, enter into realms of consciousness heretofore only hinted at in ancient texts. Humanity is indeed awakening. However, many still seek proof in some way. Consciousness is inherently intangible yet direct experience is available. We’ve kept our inner life at a distance, rarely visiting let alone actualizing outwardly in passionate deliberate creations. Many have risen to the tasks and are experiencing breakthroughs (which are sometimes a series of break-downs) in their personal and professional worlds aligning more.

On a different plane, the bodies of that vibratory rate (similar to the physical and visual experience of Earth, not limited to 3-D physics), haven’t even begun to be explored fully. We talk about multidimensionality, with limited if not rare experiences of it, yet even with all the talking heads, there is little provided that offers a direct experience of it on demand. This is where the scientific method comes into play and with repeatability, there is capacity for expanded knowledge and wisdom, the ‘right use’ which inherently resides in the higher vibratory experience. Now that we’re in the New Time, and the remainder of the 50-year cycle surrounding the 2012 Winter Solstice, the thoughtmosphere is ripe for harvest. Implementing the awareness garnered over the last 25 years, putting it in time frame orientation, we craft and execute a new living awareness and behavior in the world.

That behavior is a demonstration of how well you are aligned with this new living model that self-corrects as awareness continues to grow. The stories are being told, those who’ve incarnated are becoming aware of their connectedness to something bigger. It’s been illusive, this path of perfection embedded in our genes and soul, the consciousness brought on by discovery and sharing of psycho-spiritual as well as scientific technologies. For the time being, though, existing systems are still in play and many still have to pay bills. That is the dilemma that has faced three generations, starting with the Peace, Love and Harmony generation of the 60s.

The Occupy Movement was the collective conscience acting out with the first stage of ‘something is amiss’ and demonstrating for addressing the obvious problems caused by poor fiscal and physical management. The wave swept the planet in a few weeks, but it was not destined for achieving results, only awareness that a seemingly huge number of people around the world agree we have a common stake in the development of our future society. Oddly enough, Crop Circles appear that seem serendipitous to events around the world and continue to offer communication to us through the bio-circuitry of the bent plants that then transfers through the thoughtmosphere of the planet and people. It supports the subtle shifts of the cosmological events as our Mother, a daughter also, begins another cycle.

There undoubtedly many methods to achieve direct experience. One such form of experience available today comes from a technique developed in the 1950s by William Swygard, called Multi-Plane Awareness. It has only been performed as an individual experience through a ‘qualified’ facilitator for decades, yet no one has taken it to the next level – for distribution – now available as an MP3 download. Only your direct experience will prove its reality… or not. Responses from those who’ve tried it have been quite phenomenal…. the bridging of worlds beyond their imagination… http://ow.ly/jzAcb

This was a blank post for a couple of days, just to make a point. The future is completely malleable, a blank canvas if you will. I’ve got to thank Fleming Funch for the graphic and his development of one of the first community-oriented websites back in the early 00s, NewCiv.org. So, what kind of new paradigm do you/we want for 2013? Do we even want one? If we did, what would it include and/or eliminate?

For me, I’ve not been able to decide what I want to be when I grow up, or that I want to grow up at all. At 55 you’d think I would have everything in line and be well on my way to retirement. In today’s world I’m not sure retirement is even an option. However, what has been a driving force in my quiet moments is the passion for purpose and the fulfillment of a vision I was given so many years ago, nearly 40 now.

The vision wasn’t full of scenery, the kind of rapid fire visuals that accompany the unfolding of a contemporary experience you might read about from others who have seen the future and are reporting back. Instead, it was empty of preconception or prognostication. The vision was simply full of potential with only the points of light (I understood them as points of consciousness) gathered to work together to assist in the development of a new world order.

Now a ‘new world order’ has connotations that don’t necessarily make it a good thing these days. It smacks of the Orwellian style of global village where control and dominance of some less-than-helpful regime ultimately takes advantage of everyone and everything in order to benefit a few. I really think we have that already and maybe you do as well. Does that mean that we are stuck with it? I think not.

Last year’s arrival of the Occupy Movement demonstrated that there is a level of discontent and support for change, acknowledging that how things are now isn’t working. It doesn’t take a diligent researcher or scientist to recognize that we have some huge problems lurking with an elephant in the middle of the room. Actions being taken by some are counter-intuitive and lack the common sense that seems so obvious to those who have little attachment to the outcome of the current agenda – whatever that is.

Whatever the agenda is, it appears to completely disregard the one element that could unite us all – learning how to get along. Instead the focus has been how to get around, over, through and (your choice of preposition) what has to be considered in order for us to move forward as a planetary civilization. We use the thinking and the tools that created the problems and expect solutions to emerge as if by magic.

It appears we are lacking the initiative to call a halt to our methodologies that only continue to exacerbate and masturbate. Our belief systems operate on control whether it is people, places or things. Military, political, religious and social architecture have become so rigid with the the idea that there is always an enemy that we have forgotten how to be friends, lovers and neighbors who look out for each other not with aggression or weapons, but with love and service.

In the US, supposedly a nation with Christian values, we ignore the basic tenets of Christ’s teaching regularly. I’m not a ‘Christian’ per se, but Christ’s teachings rank with all the great masters from all the religions who basically say the same thing… love one another. We forget that if we feed our perceived ‘enemy’ then the likelihood of them remaining an ‘enemy’ is less. Most often the meal conversations evolve toward some kind of unity and similarity and, God forbid, we might get to know each other and see how similar we really are instead.

This is the thing about changing our paradigm to one that makes sense common, brings out our humanity and renders harmless the ill-will of those who are afraid of losing what they’ve gained. I would offer that we can engage a new living awareness that has nothing to do with any current or old belief system, but we have a real challenge in helping others – cohorts, friends, neighbors, etc, – to simply change their thinking for a little while, try on a new hat or pair of glasses and see the world with new eyes.

We just passed yet another possibility for total annihilation that, yet again, many thought was going to happen because they didn’t bother to do the research and understand what the indigenous cultures who created the calendars intended for the human race to understand, or even if they did. In reality, their intention and projection (if one can call it that) was for a new consciousness to evolve throughout humanity – one of harmony among people and planet – as a result of the progression of time. To me that seems like the natural progression for a planetary civilization to make and to hold as a goal for their sustainability to say the least.

Recent scientific discoveries show that there has been activity going on along the Milky Way for much longer than we might have suspected. The image to the left is from Fermi, a NASA telescope that was launched in 2008. Obviously it has traveled a long way already to give us this kind of astounding imagery. Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) have been happening for some time as well. We don’t have enough historical data to predict or even know the patterns of activity over the course of Earth’s history, so any projections would be speculative at best.

Speaking of speculations… the subtle energy baths, bubbles, particles and waves (for you quantum viewers) create a mixture of sensory opportunity. Some feel that on this playing field our inner sensory array, beknownst or unbeknownst to us, receives these cosmic messages and translates them into subtle impressions and movements of data within our BEing.

The data retrieval and optimization of our inner software seems to depend on how well we ask questions and listen in the silence for our ‘downloads’ to present a multi-sensory display – usually some warm fuzzies [sensations] and a video snippet [eyes open or closed doesn’t always matter] that accompanies the ‘realization’ in the moment. It may happen slightly differently for each individual, but the general theme is consistent. Too often we are unable to articulate these events well enough to share.

Multidimensional consciousness, however misunderstood, does include the potential for non-linear or even what is being called quantum entanglement experiences. Now this might sound too scientific, but on a practical level it is an attempt to explain how the various aspects of this multidimensional experience happen, like synchronicity for instance. We all have those experiences, but we don’t necessarily know how they occur. Translating a non-linear experience into a linear framework is touchy at best.

Obviously some kind of ‘energy’ or data has to interact in the matrix of consciousness, the thoughtmosphere, in order for actions to take place and results to be experienced. We find that this seems to happen more consistently with those who have an expanded awareness. This increased awareness also coincides with a general sense of the advancement of consciousness, the real movement toward a new world order of harmony among people and planet.

We can observe this on yet another level of scientific order, which I think fits perfectly into our advancement as a planetary civilization molecule, if you will. Ilya Prigogine rocked the scientific world with his theories on disequilibrium and made this statement: “When a molecule’s implicate (existing) order starts to fall apart, the entity faces a moment of choice, the ‘bifurcation point.’ It can either go out of existence, or recognize itself at a higher level to accommodate the new variables.” Consider the thoughtmosphere of the human race as this molecule now.

What that means is that a new living awareness results from the turn toward love at the bifurcation point. This turn toward love brings noticeable changes in one’s environment, which also speaks to the notion that Bruce Lipton presents in our ability to change our biology as a result of how we perceive our environment. Seeing the world through new eyes is important now.

How we advance in the next few years, maybe even this year will set the standard, is more important than ever now. It is imperative to shift our focus from the old fear, guilt and shame game to a new view that puts our processing on hold for just a fraction of a moment, allowing us to pause for the cause (our lives) and take a breath (inspiration) before launching into old patterns that were created from the thinking and tools that got us into this mess. Can we do it?

I cannot begin to delineate all the features and benefits of such a shift, nor can I begin to cover all the areas affected (and how) throughout our global society because of its complexity across the gamut of perplexing challenges currently facing our leadership. What I can do is encourage a deeper look, a longer pause in reflecting on your real values and how you live them. I think we all want to love and be love, as corny as that may sound, so how are we demonstrating that in our daily lives and relationships?

Holistic: Cosmic Conundrum or Common Sense?

Making Sense Common

Holistic, adj.

1. Of or relating to holism.

a. Emphasizing the importance of the whole and the interdependence of its parts.

b. Concerned with wholes rather than analysis or separation into parts

Defining the variety of subsets in the equations we consider for our daily living decisions have been the norm for many years. Not that we are necessarily mathematical in nature; simply that we calculate our actions to produce results whether we realize it or not. Our brains are like supercomputers that operate nearly unconsciously in the process, spitting out answers just in time to move our bodies or open our mouths. When defining ‘holistic,’ do we consider a systems approach?

We tend to focus on the immediate and be less aware of the larger picture of our lives and how we interact with the world. The latter growing general awareness reveals that indeed we are ‘connected to everything.’ This understanding is creeping into the consciousness of a growing segment of society. Some see things as being connected with some half-baked idea of oneness, but don’t know how to put it into practical use. On the other end of the spectrum, scientists are grappling with the concepts contained in quantum mechanics, still an idea of oneness and again with no practical outcome to date. What if we perceived the world as whole already and looked backward to see how we became so intimately engaged.

Now when this concept is cascaded through layers of patterned behavior and outcome, change is possible. Peering into the depths of what keeps us afraid, angry, ignorant and immobile might reveal the best way out. If we determine the bottlenecks, we can free the flow. In theory, harmony among people and planet is possible using current metrics in the applied sciences. We have ways to analyze and chart superior systems and know how they work.

Inquiring Minds Must Know

So what does that really mean? Let us explore some relevant data.

Peter Senge introduced the “systems thinking” model to the business world in the ’90s. He notes four disciplines, integrated by a fifth. Personal mastery, mental models, building shared vision and team learning are synergized by systems thinking. Basically ‘systems thinking’ is a way of viewing an environment from a broader perspective that includes seeing overall structures, patterns and cycles in systems, rather than seeing only specific events in the system. Those same patterns are likely to appear as fractals throughout any organization. Similarly, the human system is rarely considered in the process of personal growth and, instead of a whole view, we look at a specific behavior as the focus for change.

“A high-functioning system continually exchanges feedback among its various parts to ensure that they remain closely aligned and focused on achieving the goal of the system. If any of the parts or activities in the system seems weakened or misaligned, the system makes necessary adjustments to more effectively achieve its goals.” (Carter McNamara, MBA, PhD, Authenticity Consulting, LLC., 2007)

Could we apply this view to people and planet as we move into the new millennium? What about off-planet relationships? How about applying it to our body/mind/spirit/soul complex? In the concept of holistic systems we can extrapolate a theory of what oneness might look like from a logistical standpoint. No, that doesn’t mean from a mountaintop. It means we can begin to grasp being able to step out of the old paradigm of separation and stagnation.

Holistic health and medicine present a myriad of modalities capable of addressing the plethora of perturbations within the mind/body/spirit/soul or ‘system’ of our individual consciousness. In essence, we are vibration in motion affected by subtle biochemical and physiological changes for the most part. Now we must include environmental changes as our air, land and water have questionable purity. We also know that where we are affects many aspects of our health and mental clarity.

Indeed we are inextricably connected to the world around and within us. We feel sensations, but are challenged to describe them. Apparently we are not used to looking within yet. What about treating the whole person instead of just symptoms?

Holy Water or Stinking Thinking

Dr. Masaru Emoto’s research on water crystals, feelings and thoughts suggests that we have a profound capacity to affect ourselves and our environment. We are roughly 60% water or so. Just imagine the affect our thoughts and feelings have on each of us. What are you thinking about now? What was your last inspiring thought? How did that feel? When was your last desperate thought? How did that feel? Choice is optional.

Scientific discoveries continue to validate what mystics have espoused for years – our thinking affects our reality; the observer’s thoughts and feelings directly affect the experiment. Science and spirituality speak with one voice.

Are we listening? How do we think and feel in a holistic fashion that is life-friendly and supportive of change? Are we aware of the thoughtmosphere, the repository of intelligence we all share and how accessible it really is?

Holistic ecology reflects the argument made that “in order to move toward greener societies, homogeneity and universalism will have to be replaced by recognition of the importance of cultural, biological, and epistemological diversity. Without such diversity, the options for life itself are removed. We are all related at our core.

Indigenous peoples appreciate this diversity. Without such diversity, the options for life itself are removed. Collectively, they embody cultural and epistemological diversity, and by their very character respect the importance of the diversity that exists within the natural world.” (Timothy Boston, University of Tasmania, Australia).

Holistic education is a multi-leveled experiential journey of discovery, expression and mastery where all students and teachers learn and grow together. Holistic education recognizes the innate potential of EVERY student for intelligent, creative, systemic thinking. Holistic learning is organized around relationships within and between learners and their environment while empowering learners to live fully in the present and to co-create preferred futures.

Holistic curriculum is inquiry driven, interdisciplinary and integrated, and is based on explicit assumptions of interconnectedness, wholeness and multi-dimensional being. (Holistic Education Network of Tasmania, Australia).

How We Are Who We Are

You might want to ‘google’ Howard Gardner’s ‘multiple intelligences’ and Daniel Goleman’s ‘emotional intelligences’ to garner greater understanding of how we learn and work in the world. Suffice it to say we are very complex beings with very simple motivations and a natural urge to merge runs through our entire being. As we explore the notion of universal order or cosmic consciousness there is a certain inspired logic the permeates the thoughtmosphere.

We create relation ships on the ocean of emotion, usually buffeted by our inability to control our own emotions, driven by our desire to control. Emotion that is, operating our minds and bodies after a response is called for, instead of remaining quiet and observing the prudent path. Sense becomes common in our listening. When we step back we can see a bigger picture, a broader scope of how possibilities can coagulate to move the foundation of behavior to a higher order.

The growing wisdom about creating a ‘holistic’ relationship with the people and planet flows across multiple industries and the burgeoning global economy, not to mention echoing in the thoughtmosphere of a conscience that appears as a new trend toward ethical behavior. “This broader view and inclusive approach to personal and professional endeavors is challenging patterns of behavior and the ‘old way’ of doing business.” Daniel Pink

Change agents are melding with Cultural Creatives™ as the need for holistic practices in business is met. Business as usual, driven by profit and loss statements, is transforming into something much greater today as some individuals and companies are necessarily redefining their vision and mission statements to reflect a new mindset. To note a recent milestone, the International Standards Organization brought representatives together from 90 countries with the task of creating social responsibility standards. The ISO 26000 Social Responsibility Standards Draft copy is available at PlanetaryCitizens.net

The ratified copy was released in December of 2010 and provides a holistic approach to doing business and corporate behavior. This very well could be the tool that we can use to change the behavior of the corporatocracy. We certainly aren’t going to get rid of them, so let’s get them to act a little differently. After all, it is the internal informal communication fostered by management and employees that drives a company. Can you imagine an internal change that would foster ethical and responsible behavior?

A New Paradigm of Inclusion

The new 21st Century mindset includes a ‘holistic’ view, yet focuses on the practical elements that engage a new living awareness. After all, it is our awareness that changes and because of that change the world around us appears to change. When that change occurs to harmonize and resonate with natural patterns, rhythms and timing there is a shift. That is the shift we seek as we move into the new galactic year, another spin around the center of our galaxy. The current fragmentation of our society and developing global village demand a new view.

Might a holistic perspective seeking harmony among people and planet through best practices help? Einstein alluded that this might be an aspect of quantum entanglement, where the universe is seeking to reveal itself through extraordinary ordinary means, like learning to get along so we can care for each other without fear. Perhaps focusing on the health and well-being of a planetary civilization is more appropriate given our understanding of attention and intention.

Evidence of advancing connectivity and an evolving new view, a holistic world view model, is showing up in the co-creation wheel model that both the Thrive website and the Shift Movement. I wonder if Gamble and Marx-Hubbard conferred? Are there more folks climbing on the bandwagon for a holistic system emergence on the planet? I’m sure if you look around there are many other examples, like IBM’s Smarter Planet campaign. It seems Senge’s affect on the learning organization and systems thinking is filtering through the thoughtmosphere. There is still the matter of collaboration that remains in question. It seems competition for value still reigns, even with all the talk indicating otherwise.

How do we create value in the 21st Century? How do we create bridges for a holistic systems approach to planetary administration and merge diversity effectively? Whether we fear or welcome it, there is a ‘new world order’ that is emerging. How do we, as planetary citizens, make sure that the momentum takes us toward living as ONE – one people, one planet, one time?

It all seems to make perfect sense when we realize that there are enough resources to feed, clothe, house and provide health care for everyone. We’ve placed the economics of war over human life, though, and that mindset has to change soon or we’ll self-destruct. Even with those supposedly working for ‘good’… are they more interested in sharing or selling you something? The truly confusing piece of information is that we spend more money on corporate and military functions than, if redirected, would provide more than enough funds to feed, clothe, house and care for everyone. Of course those are statistics, but what if they are true?

Donald Keys, speech writer for U Thant in the 60s, coined the phrase Planetary Citizen on the way to creating The New World Alliance. The United Nations had some great leadership in these mean, attempting to create a holistic view of the world at that time.

From Donald Keys circa 1982… “To cross over the threshold and enter into a world of new and exciting promise requires us to fulfill the tasks immediately before us: first, to become aware; second, to accept responsibility for the human situation; third, to acquire skills; and fourth, to act wisely and well, consciously and continuously on behalf of… a better future for humanity.”

So now that we’ve made it past the latest bump in the road, let’s opt for a true apocalypse and transform our way of looking at the world, our lives and our relationships.

SETI Missing Link

The SETI Institute’s Jill Tarter makes her TED Prize wish: to accelerate our search for cosmic company. Using a growing array of radio telescopes, she and her team listen for patterns that may be a sign of intelligence elsewhere in the universe. Jill gives a wonderful talk about the diversity of creation, offering possibility and probability of the discovery of intelligent life beyond our current capacity to understand them. The latter is an extrapolation of the content of her talk. The message was that we need to continue to look for indicators based on our capacity to interpret data. Technological developments will likely increase our view.

Speaking of increasing our view, the discovery of intelligent life may also include an internal experience currently unavailable for scientific observation. This can get into some very subjective conversations for sure. Yet there are some indicators of potential life in other dimensions imperceptible to measurement, but nevertheless the apparent experience of a number of people. Science is offering a multitude of possibilities, so would it also follow that there might be an experience of some intelligence or intelligent region of consciousness as proof, a new living reality that could even be quantifiable as a logic path?

Let’s say there is a logic path for us to perceive that leads us to new conclusions, since our current ones haven’t shown much success. How might it show up and what might it offer experientially? If we look at our capacity for cross-referencing, the first thing we might look it is our common denominator, at least for life on Earth. We have a common thread that bonds us all together, like the number of man.

We are carbon-based life forms, ‘we’ being an indigenous view of the vast family and relatives sharing this world. We also have an electromagnetic device that runs our bodies and allows us to explore vast realms of feelings and thoughts, not to mention the physical activity we may be involved in when those myriad thoughts occur. Brilliant minds and creative sorts concur that stream of consciousness doesn’t have to be linear or even sequential. M theory would seem to validate the existence of time and/or space distortions. The other 90% of the brain, perceived to be dormant by some, might be linked in.

Carbon fibers are now being used to create super computers capable of massive data calculations far beyond any computer to date. There seems to be a relationship between carbon and silicon, though. Silicon allowed humans to create simulated brain functions and speeds considerably more than humanly possible, although there have been some exceptions to the rule. I find it amusing that it is the second most plentiful element in the Earth’s crust, behind oxygen which is the third most prevalent element in the universe.

So what does this have to do with the search for extraterrestrial intelligence? Based on the above, I assert that there is a bridge between worlds that can be experienced, but not in the traditional linear sense. It seems to happen in spurts and sputters, based on reports. If we consider multiple dimensions, then we must also consider each to have a different time/space relationship with our own.It seems we have some clear pointers, but to where?

It would also offer consideration for potential bleed-over that is observable and recurrent in at least a number of unrelated individuals, possibly a collective experience of others in collaboration. It would be one that offered an irrefutable experience of connectivity with something beyond each individual, associated with a general activity and potentially specific to the individual as part of a cohesive unit.

Is that too much of a leap in logic? Where might we look for SETI’s missing link, the bridge of inner and outer realities that would support this? Might we be on a kind of mobius strip as a result, moving in and out of realities in manners not currently comprehended by the human mind, yet presented in blipverts nevertheless? Those snippets of conscious and/or physical experience might offer clues to a larger reality, but conversations have to form in order to do validate it. Who’s on the short list?

So if there is an experiential component to this expansion of reality, what might it look like. Well, it might look like a myth evolving through many contributors who may not even be aware of each other initially. If we look to the Web, there is a thread that may offer insight. The name of the thread is the Galactic Federation (sometimes ‘of Light’ is included). In some cases a specific division known as the Ashtar Command is also prevalent. They simultaneously began showing up a few years after Roswell and have been gaining attention for decades of Earth time.

What are they? What do they say? Nearest I can figure is that their messages are generally experienced internally, like a neuro-network in subspace or potentially a different dimension that something, some change in our awareness, allows its perception. It appears some have had this capacity for perception the entire lives while others experience an event that shifts their perception. The latter could be a near-death, a spiritually transformative or even direct contact with other seeming off-planet races. They all have similar takes on the Galactic Federation being an advanced group of intelligent life forms that communicate the need for human transformation in a variety of ways.

There are many so-called ‘channels’ or ‘messengers’ of the Galactic Federation, with claims of being from other star-systems usually including Andromeda, Arcturus, Centaurus, Orion, Pleiadean and dozens more. These channels are consistent in the presentation of a theme, like harmony among people and planet, as their objective. They are inconsistent, however, with the manner in which this will occur, citing direct involvement to an evacuation plan. Neither of which is pertinent to the underlying message to humanity, “Live as One.”

What is pertinent is the practical approach to understanding the communication we are receiving, both internally and externally. Ships shutting off missile silos in the 60s is an example of direct contact externally. Another might be the deciphering of the message in the binary disc that was part of a crop circle formation in August of 2002. The binary disc decoded: “Beware of the bearer’s of gifts and the broken promises. Much pain but still time. Believe there is good out there. We oppose the deceivers. The conduit is closing.”

The message seemed to carry a logical theme, understood to be the trials and tribulations of humanity, with some encouragement for the future. The puzzling reference is, ‘the conduit is closing.’ What could that mean? When coupled with opposition to deception, it might mean that those who’ve been able to deceive people will be exposed and/or vanish from the scene somehow. Common sense would dictate a collaborative action of concerned planetary citizens to be necessary.

So back to the topic of the missing link the internal experience. Is there an experiential bridge to the community of consciousness theoretically present within M theory? If so, what might it look like or better yet, how might we engage it and learn more? I’m sure more doorways exist, yet I know of one that works particularly well for preparing the way. It is called the ‘Multi-Plane Awareness Technique’ and was developed by William Swygard in the 1950s, so it has been in use for half a century now and my personal experience with it was nothing less than profound beyond explanation at the time.

As far as I know, there is no other recorded version available. It has traditionally been conducted with a facilitator who took notes of the experience as offered by the experiencer. A trained hypnotherapist or one who offers guided meditations can learn it quite easily and use it with their clients or cohorts in the unveiling of this cosmic mystery. My goal is to provide the opportunity for a direct experience of multiple dimensions of consciousness with the possibility of aligning them for greater self-awareness and functionality in this world. I’ve made it available on Amazon as an MP3 for a whopping $.99…. http://goo.gl/fGNX6

If indeed our quest for extraterrestrial life turns out to be initiated from within, then we might have the next clues for our journey toward a new world order that serves humanity through the redistribution of resources to say the least. When we reduce or remove the need for violence, the good-will of others increases exponentially. I’d like to offer that further consideration and study be given to the link between worlds as a conscious experience, whether it turns out to be a function of the Galactic Federation or not.

If we are going to find harmony in the chaos around us, then we might begin to look where we haven’t. Like Einstein said, we cannot fix our problems with the same tools that created them. In this case, those tools created a disconnect between worlds. Maybe its time to think about restoring them, or at least finding out if they really exist. For me, they seem to be in unquestionable ways, yet the collective experience is still quite undecided as the challenge to recognize and change fear-based belief systems is ever-present.

Maybe that is the conduit that is closing, allowing free will to expand into new realms, some of which may hold the keys to our transformation as a planetary civilization learning to share a planet and its resources without distractions from unethical practices used to command and control populations. That is so old school; so last century. It’s time we grew up, not only in our behavior; in our thinking about life and our star families waiting for us to be safe for them. They’ve already proven beyond a doubt they are safe for us according to Paul Hellyer, retired defense minister for Canada.

So what do we do? Here is something I faced as a teenager, regurgitated for more popular distribution: http://mothershipcafe.com/messianic_complex.htm

I had an interesting transition from marriage and the corporate ladder in early 1989. I had a major shift in my life to say the least. viagra 100mg I really tried to do my best in both worlds, but failed in each evidently. I acknowledge that I missed some signs in each, yet my inner direction and ‘guidance’ from that place of universal connection we all have seemed to want something different. It was nothing shy of traumatic and tumultuous and I wasn’t sure I’d make it through initially. It was a tough road for me emotionally and spiritually, yet I eventually made it to higher ground.

In the summer of ’89 I got involved with a project called ‘Earth Concert 1989‘ that was being spearheaded by a guy named Jean Hudon from Canada. He’d written a book called The Immortal Child that I found solace in during that period and eventually met up with him later in the year. While networking and looking for sponsors I had the opportunity to present the concept to the Christown Lion’s Club. I knew they were doing events and had a nice insurance policy that could prove very useful in acquiring a site for the Phoenix spoke of the event.

Something unexpected happened, though, and it led to the opportunity to produce and host a television show. The very first show was a conversation between a good friend and I about the focus of the show and what I hoped to accomplish. It was my first time on camera, so I was nervous as heck. Rodger Schnellenberger was actually the second choice for the conversation. Andy Olson, a local radio personality, was supposed to be there, but he got tied up with a meeting at work, so Rodger stepped in. What a gift, too. Rodger had a Masters in Television and Video production from Arizona State University and was very comfortable being put on the spot… in the light. Enjoy the view and I’ll pick it up again in a moment.

The discussion brought up key points regarding the progression of consciousness and new thought that was driving the conversations in the community of folks that many called ‘metaphysical,’ ‘new age,’ or ‘spiritual.’ At that time the internet was non-existent and the proliferation of ‘new thought’ was far from ubiquitous. I’d had the opportunity to put many of the philosophies to the test and distill an awareness that seemed worthy of sharing. I also felt that if I was going through this process, then others must be having these kind of challenges, too.

How the show evolved was nothing less than surreal as the whole chain of events seemed to have an invisible hand guiding them. After the presentation of the Earth Concert concept to the Lion’s Club, the president approached me to get involved with the group. He thought I’d get along famously with a guy who was currently directing a show for them that featured Harry Eagle, the origami man, who was teaching how to make origami.

Long story short, the director and I became fast friends and I went through the training classes to be able to participate in the behind the scenes production components at the public access studio. Our relationship extended into rock climbing and other desert adventures. Several months went by and I learned the various skills required to produce a show; audio and video decks, graphic generation and display, switcher, camera operation and floor direction. It was a lot of fun. At the time I was pretty well networked in the metaphysical community from events I’d been producing, both independently and with others.

One evening I could tell his patience with the talent was growing thin. I was sitting at the computer graphics generator, next to the switcher (used to control the lights, audio mix, camera displays and final feed to the 3/4 inch video recorder) where John was stationed as director. He turned to me during a break and asked me if I’d produce a show about ‘new age’ topics since I was already heavily involved in the community. I hadn’t said a word about my secret desire to do so. I told him I’d love to, but ‘new age’ wasn’t a label I wanted to use for the show as it was still very controversial and I wanted to be able to appeal to a larger population.

It took a little while and when we decided on ‘One World’ we thought it was more congruent with the theme of creating harmony among people and planet. I had no idea how I was going to structure the show, though. One afternoon I was meditating, with nothing particular on my mind, when all of a sudden the ‘format’ showed up. I’d bring guest on and ask a series of questions about who they are, what prompted to do what they are doing personal and professionally from both internal and external perspectives.

From there we’d explore the fears they encountered and, more importantly, how they overcame them and how they seem that pattern or process reflected in the people they worked with and in the community at large. Finally, we would discuss what barriers they see to a global community in harmony, how they see those barriers dissolving and what evidence they can offer of it. The first show was the kick-off where we’d introduce the concept and have some fun discussing the personal and professional paths Rodger and I had trod to date. As you saw, we really had no script and jumped in with both feet from the beginning.

What was really interesting was that Rodger and I had a number of private conversations off camera about the thinness of the veil between this life and the next. I’d had numerous experiences with necromancy, being able to talk to dead people, so our conversations took on a deeper dynamic. I had introduced him to his future wife, Annie, who was staying with me at the time. She was a gifted psychic as well as a really cool woman and they hit it off the moment they met. She was visiting from Scotland as well and after extending her visa, they moved to Kentucky to help his parents with their trucking business. A year later they returned to Phoenix to get married.

Rodger and I did a one-year anniversary show as well. Hopefully I can find that a post it eventually, too. I’ve had about 50 tapes left from the 100+ shows of the series and only recently finally got some of them converted and posted to YouTube. At any rate, Rodger and Annie went back to Kentucky and just over a week later Rodger died in a car wreck on his way to work one morning. I understood why we seemed to always end up talking about the veil then. It was prep work.

Of course, in classic style he came to me a few days later as I entered my home. I got an intense feeling that I needed to lay down, like I was suddenly overwhelmed with fatigue. No sooner did I get prone than his face appeared in my vision (eyes closed) and I heard him say, “Hey, got something to show you.” For the next few minutes my vision was filled with video vignettes from the other side, offering further confirmation to our discussions and some tasty tidbits of information that answered some of my further questions about consciousness in general. You’ll find those peppered throughout my books. Just google’- ‘Zen Benefiel, author’ and you’ll find them. Or just look over at the sidebar.

I’ll be sharing another show soon, with comments about our discussion and future discoveries. All of these shows were recorded at the Glendale Public Access Studio, owned by Dimension Cable Services, from May of 1990 to August of 1922. I’m so grateful for the dedication of the volunteer crew and all the guests who participated. We were pioneers in the field at the time. Maybe someday I’ll have an opportunity to revisit the theme.

The Challenge to Change

We know, or at least some have a sense, that all things are connected – a holistic model of consciousness permeates creation. Quantum sciences are pointing toward this as fact now. We still choose to separate ourselves from others today, though.

Fear is being promoted at the very top of national leadership across the world. Even when prompted to contact or communicate with another, our ‘logic’ often prohibits the interaction due to fear of misunderstanding, rejection or threat of appearing less than what we think we should.

Can we affect change where primary belief systems seem diametrically opposed? Can we offer a solution? Do we really want solutions? It has taken us centuries to arrive at the present conditions. Can or will it change in a few years? Will we rise above fear and embrace a new way?

How can we open our minds to something we’ve never experienced? What if we were able to acknowledge the obvious? Our minds and hearts are still in opposition, we fear what we do not know or have not experienced.

Oftentimes a new experience brings such a ‘rush’ of energy that we confuse it as a threat rather than a thread in the fabric of our evolution. We lock up – the fight or flight syndrome so common in psychology.

Are these our only choices? Do we have yet another choice yet unexplored? We can rise in consciousness but we actually take the mandatory rollercoaster ride to get there. It is our unconscious patterned desire for continued separation that inhibits our ability to connect, a pattern so deep and in such conflict with self/Self that wars are fought across the planet because of it.

Ancient Mayan and even Sanskrit terms in use today indicate we might want to consider some alternatives. ‘In lakesh’ (I am another you) and ‘Namasté’ (internal and external obeisance to thee) both acknowledge the oneness in self and others.

The humble bow of recognition that is part of many cultures moves us closer toward a sense of unity or at least understanding. It is more than respect. I am challenged to see and sense myself in another, even with the extensive experience and knowing of this truth and an attitude of gratitude. What about those unaware?

The Internet brings us closer in communication and yet further apart from physical communion with others. What do we really want anyway? The hot new belief system says we can attract what we want by identifying what we desire, giving it attention, and allowing it to happen.

Easier said than done, yet it warrants further consideration for sure. Implementing an action plan that creates the magnet for the desire to manifest is the key that we seem to ignore, thinking that we can defy known scientific rules: potential energy remains at rest until acted upon.

Conversely it is an obvious strain in feeling and logic to eliminate the concept of identifying what we don’t want in order to move closer to what we do. Still the objective is to create, co-create or construct new thoughtforms of a stronger magnetism that allows matter and spirit to coalesce in accordance with this new living awareness. I’ve heard it called ‘structural tension’ as an element in the creative process. How do we make the process simple?

Simplicity of being, doing and having is the goal for all spiritual seekers, allowing the greater consciousness to permeate their worlds and guide their daily movements. Simple gratification and validation is also the goal of most individuals in daily living, unconsciously desiring to love and be loved in the spirit of oneness. We talk a good line, but the result is tainted with pushing or pulling energy to move as many mountains as possible with as little effort as we can muster.

This is not to say that humans are lazy, yet they do tend to avoid the stretch to actually make things simple in their daily lives, let alone shift into a heart-centered awareness. Once a heart-centered awareness is achieved, though, the knowing moves us toward more prudent paths.

Our perceived intelligence often convinces us not to listen to the still small voice within, even after a so-called ‘spiritual awakening.’ We rarely challenge the notion of duality, yet it is the stumbling block laid before us in our quest to find balance and harmony.

Even science and religion strive to find harmony in their expressions of reality and thousands of books have been written on the subject of Unity… unified field theory to universal love, M Theory to The Masters of the Far East and much more. How can we simplify?

Would it be easier to simply look at the existing systems in our global economy, for instance, and focus on developing life-friendly processes and protocols? How can we better manage our resources, both human and material, while promoting a sense of unification without subjugation?

We are faced with choices on a moment to moment basis, pushed and pulled by this or that to make a decision about our lives, great or small. Granted some do not want to choose, they simply want to follow or be told what to do so they do not have to be accountable or responsible for their actions. It is far easier a path to be led than to lead. It is a challenge to think, let alone change.

Something to consider is that challenge and change are only 3 letters different. Take out the ‘lle’ and change is automatic. I like to offer that the ‘lle’ stands for ‘liability, limitation and excuse’ and all fall into the personal capacity realm first, but extend into the group, organization or team when facing goals and objectives. Consider the identification and systematic elimination of those items in yourself and/or your organization. What might happen as a result?